Picking shaft for looms



Aug. 15, 1950 I v, SEPAVQCH 2,518,945

PICKING SHAFT FOR LOOKS Filed June 5, 1948 v i: 1 a

35 a INVENTOR 30 worm r: SEPAV/CH v WW F|G.5 ATTORNEY 4 Patented Aug. 15, 1950 l'frIcm 'asn"Air FonLoo" Ms Victor E'Sepavich, Worcester, Mass assignor to Cromptond; Knowles Loom Works, Worcestcr, Mass a corporation of Massachusetts 7 Application June 5, 1948, Serial No. 31,306

Claims. (Cl- 139-147) This invention relates to improvements in picking shafts for looms and it is the general object of the invention to construct a picking shaft in such manner as will reduce the fatigue stresses to which the shaft is subjected during a picking operation.

Many types of looms operate with a picking mechanism including a picking shaft extending back and forth in the loom and having one end operatively connected to a picker stick and having the other end arranged for cooperaton with a cam or other mechanism for rocking the shaft incident to a shuttle picking operation. In the past it has been customary to make these shafts in their entirety of metal, but shafts made in this manner are subject to fatiguestresses which shorten their life and cause breakages which result in loss of operating time of the loom. Oscillograph studies of the fatigue stresses in an all metal picking shaft during a single picking operation show that the shaft is subjected to a number of alternating strains causing the shaft to twist first in one direction and then inthe opposite direction. It is an important object of the present invention to provide a picking shaft so constructed as to greatly minimize if not completely eliminate the alternating fatigue stresses.

The parts of the picking mechanism which communicate power to the picking shaft ordinarily include a metallic roll for engagement with a metallic cam, one of these parts being on the bottom shaft of a loom and the other being on the picking shaft. The aforesaid oscillograph studies suggest that the roll does not remain continuously in contact with the cam during a pick-ing operation and that the transmission of power from the loom shaft to the picker stick is in effect a succession of blows rather than a smooth continuous motion. From the standpoint of wear and durability it is desirable to have the cam'and roll of metal and with this thought in mind it is a further object of the invention to make the shaft of two parts one within the other and connect the parts together by a rubber sleeve bonded to each part, one part carrying the metallic roll and the other carrying a power arm or the like for operative connection to the picker stick.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein a convenient embodiment of my invention is set forth.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the lower part of one end ofjthe loomhaving the improved picker haft applied thereto, r

Fig. 2 is an end view looking in the direction of arrow2,Fig. Land y Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are enlarged transverse sections on lines 3I-, 4-4 and 5-5 respectively, of Fig. 2.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the loom frame Ill supports a rocker shaft I I supporting a rocker foot I2 to which the lower end of a picker stick [3 is pivoted as at l4. A lug strap [5 surrounding the picker stick is connected to a sweep stick it which in turn is connected by a strap ll to a power arm l8 forming part of the picker mechanism. The loom is provided with-a bottom or power shaft to whicha cam disk 2| is clamped as at 22. A picking'cam or actuator 23 is secured to the disk as at 24 and has an abrupt picking surface 25 and a gradual return surface 26. Shaft 20 will ordinarily turn in the direction of arrow a, Fig. 2, and raise the cam to effect a picking operation. It will be understood that each end of the loom is provided with picking mechanism and each end of shaft 20 will have a cam 23 mounted thereon. The shaft 20 ordinarily turns once every other pick of the loom, the mechanism shown in Fig. l effecting propulsion of the shuttle from one side of the loom and a similar mechanism at the opposite end returning the shuttle on the next pick.

. The matter thus far described is of common construction and of itself forms no part of my present invention except as noted hereinafter.

The picking shaft is designated generally at S and includes a metallic inner solid shaft member rockably mounted in rear and front aligned end bearings 3| and 32, respectively, secured to the loom frame Ill. The front end of the shaft member 30 is formed withintegral keys 33to enter slots 34 in the hub 3-5 of the power arm I8,

see Figs. 2 and 5. The power arm asshown in' Fig. 1 may include two parts one of which 35 is integral with the hub 35 and the other of which indicated at 31 is bolted to'the part 36 as at 38. The strap I1 is connected to the lower end of power arm part 31 as shown for instance in Fig. 2. When shaft member 30 is rocked a counter-clockwise directionas viewed in Fig. 1 the lug strap l5 will be moved to the r-ightto cause a shuttle picking operation ofthe picker stick l3. The usual'return spring 39 may be used to'rock the shaft 30 back to its normalposltiou.

Shaft 8 includes in its construction a second metallic member 40 which is of tubular form and surrounds and is concentric with the solid shaft 30. These two members 30 and 40 of the shaft S are connected together by a thin sleeve 4| formed of a body of elastic resilient non-metallic material, such as an elastic rubber bonded to both members. This sleeve may extend for the entire length of the tubular shaft 40 and the latter together with the elastic or resilient sleeve may be of-any desired length. The sleeve 4| causes the members 30 and 40 to move together angularly when either member turns, and is subject to some twisting deformation during operation of shaft S.

Tube 40 is formed with a number of peripherally spaced integral keys 42, similar to keys 33, which are received by slots 43 in the hub 44 of a roll carrier 45, see Fig. 3. The carrier has rotatably mounted thereon a picking roll 46 located between a shoulder 4! on the carrier and a stop washer 48. A bolt 49 extends through the reduced neck 50 of the carrier 45 and has a head 5| at the left end thereof as seen in Fig. 3 to limit movement of the washer 48 and has a nut 52 threaded on the other end thereof to draw the washer 48 tightly against the left end of the neck 50. The roll 46 is positioned for engagement with the metallic picking actuator or cam 23 and will be raised as it is engaged by the picking surface 25 of the cam 23. The roll 46 and its carrier 45 constitute the picking arm, or the power input arm of the picking mechanism, while the power arm I 8 may be considered the power output arm. The input and output arms will ordinarily be metallic.

In operation, shaft 26 will rotate during loom operation to cause cam 23 to engage roll 46 every other pick of the loom. During this engagement the roll 46 will move up the cam surface 25 and rock the tubular shaft member 40. The resilient sleeve 4|, due to its tight bonding to the members 30 and 40 of the shaft S, will cause the solid shaft member 30 to rock as already described to give the picker stick l3 a shuttle propelling movement. Any vibration which is set up in the carrier 45 due to engagement of roll 46 by cam 23 will be unable to transmit any substantial fatigue stresses to the shaft member 30 because of the sleeve 4|. The shaft part 36, being relieved of the fatigue stresses common in picker shafts as constructed heretofore, will be of long life and will also impart a smoother motion to the picker stick with'resultant improvement in the character of power transmitted to the shuttle. During the picking operation the power derived from bottom shaft 20 will pass from cam 23 to roll 46 to rock shaft member 46 and will then be transmitted through the resilient sleeve 4| to the shaft member 30 and thence by power arm It to the picker stick.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a picking shaft of simple construction including two members 30 and 40, one inclosed within the other, connected together by a resilient sleeve bonded to the member and effectively preventing transfer of fatigue stresses from the picking roll 46 to the shaft member 30. The latter therefore not only has longer life but also imparts a more nearly continuous force to the picker stick with resultant improvement in the flight of the shuttle. Furthermore, the ends of shaft member 30 are mounted in bearings 3| and 32. While the roll has been shown as mounted on the tubular shaft member 40 and the hub 35 of the power arm l8 on the shaft member 30, I do not wish to be limited to this particular arrangement, since it will be within the spirit of the invention if the shaft S is made of two parts bonded together by a resilient sleeve and the picking roll is connected to one of the parts and the power arm to the other. Also, it should be understood that the type of picking set forth herein, known in the trade as a cone pick, is not the only type of picking mechanism employing a picking shaft with which the invention can be used.

Having thus described the invention it will be seen that changes and modifications of the foregoing specific disclosure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In picking mechanism for a loom having a picker stick and a power shaft, a picking cam on the power shaft rotating during loom operation, a picking roll for cooperation with the cam, a power arm operatively connected to the picker stick, aligned front and back bearings, a picking shaft comprising an inner shaft member journaled in said bearings and to which the power arm is secured, an outer tubular shaft member operatively connected to said picking roll, and a resilient rubber sleeve within the tubular member surrounding part of said inner shaft member and bonded to both of said members to cause angular motion of the inner shaft member to operate the picker stick when the cam by operation of the roll causes angular motion of the tubular member, said outer tubular member and resilient rubber sleeve extending along said inner shaft member between said power arm and said picking roll.

2. A picking shaft for a loom having a picking actuator and a picker stick and aligned bearings, said picking shaft comprising an inner shaft member adapted for support by said bearings, an outer tubular member, an elastic resilient non-metallic sleeve between and bonded to said members to cause angular movement of said members when either member moves angularly, a picking arm on one of said members for cooperation with the actuator to cause angular movement of said one member, and a power arm on the other member for operative connection with the picker stick, said outer tubular member and non-metallic sleeve extending along said inner shaft member between said picking and power arms.

3. A picking shaft for a loom having a picking actuator and a picker stick and aligned bearings, said picking shaft comprising an inner shaft member adapted for support by said bearings, an outer tubular member, a body of elastic resilient rubber between and bonded to said members to cause angular movement of said inner shaft member when the tubular member is moved angularly, a power input arm on the tubular member for cooperation with the actuator, and a power output arm on the inner member for operative connection with the picker stick, said outer tubular member and said body of resilient rubber extending along said inner shaft member between said power input and output arms.

4. A picking shaft for a loom having a picking actuator and a picker stick, said picking shaft comprising an inner metallic shaft member, an outer metallic tubular member, a body of resilient non-metallic material between and bonded to said members to cause angular movement of said members when either member moves angularly, a power input element on one of said members for cooperation with the actuator to cause 8 angularmovementoissidonemembenanda power output element on the other member for operative connection with the picker stick. said outer tubular member and said body' oi resilient non-metallic material extending along said inner shaft member between said power input and output elements.

5. A picking shaft for a loom having a metallic picking actuator and a, picker stiek 'and aligned bearins, said picking shaft comprising a solid inner metallic shait member having the ends thereof adapted for support in said bearings, an outer metallic tubular member surrounding part or the inner member between said ends thereof and concentric therewith. a sleeve oi resilient rubber within the tubular member and around part or the inner member and bonded to both members to cause angular movement of either member when the other member is moved angularly, a metallic power input element for operation with the actuator secured to one or said members, and a power output element for operative connection with the picker stick secured to 1' 6 the other member, said outer tubular member and said sleeve oi resilient rubber extending along said inner shaft member between said power input and output elements.

VICTOR F. SEPAVICH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of: record in the tile 01 this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 812,485 Davis Feb. 13, 1906 952,533 Lemaire Mar. 22, 1910 1,761,526 Geyer June 3, 1930 2,235,605 Bugatti Mar. 18, 1941 2,413,643 Nault Dec. 31, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 205,959 -Great Britain Nov. 1, 1923 452,048

Great Britain Aug. 17, 1936 

